Need help looking for a job? Tired of hearing silence when you apply on-line? RightChanges Job Search Coach offers tips on how to find a job in this market and how to stand out from your competition. These tips apply whether you are unemployed, misemployed, new graduate, or re-entering the job market.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

There are, of course, major
things that can keep you from getting employed. I have addressed these major
mistakes, along with how to correct them, in the free YouTube video series
titled “The5 Deadly Sins of the Job Search”.

There are also small, careless
things you might be doing that lessen your chances of success or flat out get
you eliminated.

I work with job seekers every day
and I see these careless mistakes all too frequently. It is my job to bring
them to your attention so you can be sure you are not doing something that
eliminates you from consideration for employment.

1.Not
Following Instructions

This world is moving fast and you are in a hurry to land the
right job. But if you do not take the time to read and follow the directions,
it can cost you the job.

There are an unusually high number of people who obviously do
not read the directions. These job seekers come across as poor candidates. Fast
is not necessarily better especially when you are trying to present a good
first impression.

What can be Behind
It?

There can be any number of reasons people are missing out on
important information. Here are just a few possibilities.

Small Screen: If you read your e-mails on your phone,
you will want to wait and read the important correspondences when you can
easily read the entire e-mail on a larger screen (like on your PC) so you do
not miss what is being said.

Trying to be Quick: People shoot off a reply without
reading the entire document or assume what is being said in the rest of the
message. By missing a key detail in a job posting or e-mail, you can be ruled
out as a candidate just as quickly as you replied.

Multi-tasking: Some people are proud of being able to
multi-task. In fact scientist have done studies that prove that people cannot
multi-task activities that require brain power.Pay attention to the important tasks.

Just Ignoring the Instructions: There are times
people read, but ignore, the instructions. This conveys that you cannot or will
not read and follow directions. If this is how you operate when you are trying
to make a good first impression, hiring authorities know it will not get better
when you are onboard as an employee.

There is one time, and one time only that I can think of,
where I encourage job seekers to not follow instructions and that is when the
company asks the candidate to include salary information in the cover letter. My
suggestion instead is to write “I need to understand more about the job before
I can address the question of salary. In addition salary is only one part of
the compensation package. I would need to know more about the other aspects.”

Other than in that situation, job seekers need to know that
by not following the instructions, they are possibly eliminating themselves
from a job opportunity.

More than just not following directions can cost you the job.
Here is a list of them.

2. Not spell checking your documents and e-mails

With the advent of spellcheck,
there is no reason a document should be sent out with a spelling error. Word
and Outlook, as well as other document software, have settings to automatically
spellcheck a document before it is sent or as you type.

3. Misspelling the person’s name

When corresponding with a person,
it is vitally important to spell the other person’s name as they spell it. It
amazes me that people with unusually spelled names commit this mistake as often
as others.

4. Calling to get the date / time or address after
that information has been sent to you

When information has been provided
to you, it is your responsibility to keep track of it. To interrupt someone
else’s day with a call or e-mail to request information that you were previously
provided indicates that you are not responsible enough to keep track of
important information or that you believe their time is not valuable.

5. Rescheduling, canceling, showing up late, or not
showing at all for an appointment

Critical issues come up time to time that
make it impossible to keep a set appointment: illness

or death in the family,
car accident, etc. Not showing at a party is one thing. Not showing for a

professional appointment, showing up late without calling, or canceling at the
last minute

indicates lack of commitment or respect for the other person.

With professionals who schedule appointments,
canceling or not showing may not only cost

the professional money but more
importantly keeps others from using that time.

6. Not coming prepared to take notes

One of my favorite expressions is
that “Memory does not get better with age”. When you go into a meeting without the tools to
take notes, you clearly give the impression you are not prepared or that you do
not believe anything worth remembering will be shared.

The advent of the cloud for storing
documents provides the capability to access documents regardless of where you
are. However, do not require the recipient to go through extra steps to receive
a document you are sending them. If you are e-mailing the link, you can just as
easily e-mail the document.

8. Bringing a jump drive (or computer) and
expecting the other person to print your resume for

you

When someone asks you to bring a
document with you, bring the document.

9. Bringing your computer and assuming the company
will provide access to their secured

internet

Most companies have policies in
place that limit who can access the company’s internet. Although some companies
provide public Wi-Fi access, do not assume all companies do. Either e-mail
documents ahead of time or provide your own Wi-Fi (many smart phones can serve
as a hotspot).

10. Not
demonstrating manners and interpersonal skills

Fifty percent of what an employer
is looking for in a candidate is skills and abilities; the other 50% is a fit
for the organization. Whether you are male or female, hold the door for someone
who has their hands full, greet the receptionists professionally, and
demonstrate other strong interpersonal skills. Otherwise, you have given them
50% of the reasons not to hire you.

11. When
following up with someone, asserting the other person’s fault for not getting
back to

you as expected.

“You said you were going to call on
Friday” “I’m still waiting for an answer to my question I sent weeks ago”.

When following up with someone,
asserting their fault for not responding only puts them on the defensive,
making it so they do not look forward to working with you. You do not know what
has transpired that has kept them from replying as they had hoped.

The best approach is a soft
approach. Send the question again without indicating you sent it before. Do not
remind them of when they said they would get back to you, just send them an
e-mail or leave them a message that expresses your continued interest and that
you hope to hear from them soon.

12. Waiting
until the last minute to prepare; expecting others to make accommodations for
you

at the last minute because you failed to prepare.

I love the quote from Coach Wooden,
in fact I made it a part of my e-mail signature block “When opportunity knocks,
it is too late to prepare.” Do not wait until the last minute to prepare. If
you are unemployed, you have time to prepare BEFORE you need that resume or to
prepare for an interview. Do not waste today. Get ready now.

13. Not
turning your phone OFF completely during a meeting.

Some people have become numb to the
sound of a ringing or vibrating phone. If there is an emergency situation
requiring you to leave your phone on, let the other person know. Otherwise, turn
it off completely when in a meeting.

14. Not
being in a quiet location for a business call.

When you arrange to take a business
call, be sure you are in a quiet location. Do not drive while talking on a
business call. Find a quiet location without distraction of animals, children,
household noises - you get the idea.

Keep in mind that you do not need
to take an unscheduled call at that moment if you are not prepared, that is
what voice-mail is for. No one expects you to be 100% available for unscheduled
calls.

You are detailed oriented, a people person, and have strong
interpersonal skills so do not do anything that proves otherwise. You may be in
a hurry to land a job but pay attention to the small things that can set you
apart.

Judi Adams is the Affordable and Successful job search
coach. Go to www.RightChanges.biz to
see how to get 4 hours of coaching for as little as $175.

Other Tips

In this competitive market, every little trick helps. RightChangesJobSearchCoach.blogspot.com will give a tip for job seekers each week.
Name Badge
Use an experienced salesperson’s tip. Wear your name tag on the right so your name is in the line of sight of the people you shake hands with, making it easier for them to remember your name.

Body LanguageExcuse me - What did your body language say again? Over 80% of communication is non verbal. It is essential for you to know how to read your contact’s and interviewer’s body language so you can judge the effect of what you are saying verbally. It is also essential for you to control your own body language. The following are some brief tips.

1) Leaning forward shows interest.
2) Eye contact establishes trust with the other person.
3) Do not cross anything (arms, legs, etc.). Crossing indicates you are closed to or guarding against the person or what is being said.
4) Keep your hands within sight to show you are not hiding anything. Did you know that shaking hands started as a way to show you are not carrying a weapon?

Read more on body language and see if you may be saying one thing and your body another. The library, the web, and discount bookstores have a lot on this topic.

Do Something for Yourself

You are looking for a job so money is tight or you are budgeting more closely than ever before. This tip may seem counterintuitive but it is worth every penny. The tip: Do something for yourself that would make you proud! Whether it is to lose weight, take classes, splurge on a new interview suit or jacket, get a new hair cut or color the grey, or get new more contemporary glasses, just do it! Your self confidence level will increase. You may even meet a great networking connection that way.

This does not need to cost a lot. There are less expensive, money saving options too.

Classes: The state has programs that will cover the cost of training. Some colleges let people audit classes for free and there are links for free on-line courses. Libraries and other organizations offer seminars. During an interview, when you are asked what you have been doing since you were laid off, they will see that you have continued to develop yourself and expand your interests.

Instead of the gym: If you want to lose weight but cannot afford a gym membership, then walk the mall 1 hour non-stop several times a week. You don’t have to be an early riser either; you can find mall walkers at all hours. Check with your favorite malls. In some malls, the anchor stores close later than the other stores, so you can walk the mall without the crowds.

Eyeglasses: Several eye glass stores have "two for one" specials. Go in halves with someone on the cost.

New Interview Suit or jacket: Now is the time to shop. The stores are already marking down clothes for the new season. Watch the paper for additional discounts and coupons. Go on the web and see if the store has on-line coupons available there. You would be amazed at the savings.

You don't need to spend a lot but do something just for you that you are proud of and enjoy it!

Read Who Moved My Chesse and the Prayer of JabezCheese and Jabez: Change is hard and being on the job market is one of the most stressful changes in a person’s life. RightChanges asks every client to (re)read Who Moved My Cheese. It can be read in less than one hour and has a great message on accepting change.

Another recommended book is the Prayer of Jabez. It is based on a single verse in the Bible and reminds us that God has a storehouse of blessings for us; we just have to ask. Check these out at your local library.